GREAT EIGHT in WORLD CUP

I like Kamsky over Tomeshevsky because Kamsky is playing enterprising chess and Tomeshevsky is just plain worn out after beating Morozevich. Tomeshevsky missed e4, checkmate in his last game,lol. Kamsky won't get into a long drawn out match with Tomeshevsky and will send him packing after 2 games.

Peter Svidler should handle Dmitry Andreikin. Svidler has won the Russian championship multiple times and has just been involved in bigger tournaments overall. You have to love Svidler's endgame technique especially how he ripped Le apart when Le had king, rook, pawn, versus his king, bishop, knight, and pawn. Peter has the knack to find very playable positions, just doesn't always cash in. Svidler to win here.

Caruana over Lagrave. Lagrave has over performed already and will tank against the high rated and young Caruana.

Anton Korobov will take out the over rated former world champion Kramnik.  I love how Korobov, the former Ukraine champion took out Nakamura. Korobov just squeezed Nakamura to the point Nakamura had totally useless bishop and rook. Nakamura played a piece down for awhile until reality hit him. He was out classed by a better player! I see Korobov as a strong player yet to reach his potential, where as Kramnik is passed his best. This will go to tie break games though. It'll be very close but Korobov wins.

If anyone dares, they may tell me why I'm wrong or just post information about the upcoming games.

Predictions are welcome!

I don't know whats gotten into Kamsky lately--maybe all the extra sun is making him "light looney"--but I like it.  The games against Mamedyarov were like the old Anderssen-Zuckertort no-holds-barred, bare knuckle, tactics everywhere slugfests.  I really think these two should play a match, if they are going to challenge each other like they did here.  And someone should ask Gata, "Now, isn't this more fun than grinding them down in long endgames?"  I'll be rooting for him, but as my kiss-of-death picks have all long since been eliminated, I won't predict the outcome of any matches--just gimme more chess like that!  Vive Tal!

Veselin Topolov was absent from the starting 128 players in the World Cup. I wonder why?

In my opinion. Kramnik will beat Korobov, Andreikin has a lot of potential but to beat Svidler, ive been following Andreikin on the ICC, Kamsky against the man who beat Aronian and Moro hmmm classical Russia vs Usa i have to represent Usa. Im hoping lagrave will beat Caruana but Caruana is just extremely ridiculously strong. 

russia vs former soviet you mean, surely.

Game #1 in Round 5 (Great Eight Round), should be off and running soon. dashkee94, you're right about Gata Kamsky. The commentators mentioned several times that if a brilliancy prize was to be awarded, it would be his game one in round 4. When asked about this, Gata shrugged it off as just a different TYPE of game, not necessarily worthy of the best and most brilliant game of the tournament.  But, Kamsky has to say things like that to avoid complacency. Kamsky plays Tomeshevsky now. This is fresh brain versus tired and overworked brain in my opinion.  But, we'll see. 

chuckfloyd2011

Gata has been, how shall I say it; humble(?), in his public statements lately.  After the US Champs, he said he was disappointed at winning it, because he wanted to lose to the kids as sort of the old generation "passing the torch" to the new generation.  He also said that this is his last shot at winning the title, so maybe he is just more relaxed, figuring this is a win-win situation--either he takes the title (and wins), or he quits chess and this really doesn't mean anything anymore, so there's no internal pressure other than finding a given move (and wins).  But whatever it is, I think it's good for Gata and it's damn good for the fans.

Tomeshevsky did not miss the mate in 1. He gave a draw out of respect for Morozevich because he knew that a draw would suffice.

He is full of respect for other players. He also sacrificed a knight against Aronian (third round, second game move 19), because he thought that whenever he is playing against such a great player he should play chess as it should be played.

He has beaten Wesley So, Aronian (having a severe cold) and Morozevich. He had much tougher opponents then Kamsky so far. I doubt if Kamsky will have an easy win.

You might be right, but I thought in his own words afterwards he admitted to missing the mate in one. I might be wrong though. Your comments make sense, and I can see where he wouldn't want to disrespect Morozevich by mating him and thus winning 3 straight games against Morozevich.

Here is the update by Houdini 3:

What site is this on?

Nakamura tweeted that he could have drawn Korobov with 18...Nxe5, but he incorrectly assessed the position and tried to play for a win even though he was worse.

Kamsky's play hasn't been that great in this event, regardless of what most people will say about his games vs Mamedyarov, he has not played at his level. I'm not sure he will take out Tomashevsky, who has been playing pretty well.

Many players have said that they believe MVL has great chances to win the entire event.

Svidler is in great form.

My predictions:

Tomashevsky

Svidler

Kramnik

I have no clue who will win the MVL vs Caruana match, and am interested in watching this one closely.

I think he did miss the mate in one, but he wasn't even looking for it as he only needed the draw. When he came back to the press room he said that he couldn't find moves, um, words - probably having just realized or been told that he had missed a mate in one.

who is the guy commentating with nigel short?

I found it on chessworldcup2013

Thanks! =)

Thanks for the predictions shepi13. Most people fear making predictions in that they might be wrong with their picks. I like your input on Kamsky. Sounds like you think Lagrave has good chances to win. I just can't see him taking out one of the world's youngest and upcoming stars, Caruana, in such a big tournament. Alot at stake with an entry to next cycle's Candidates tournament. I think they only had 8 entrants in the last candidates tournament. So getting an  entry is a tough thing to accomplish. Latest updates:

Gata Kamsky just got the draw with the black pieces. Commentators say Tomashevsky traded the white pieces for a day off possibly.  Remember Tomeshevsky played for hours yesterday, and must be tired.

I don't know. I've seen him comentating on several chess events in the past. He was the guy that commentated during the Anand vs. Gelfand championship.  Sorry, I don't know his name.  Do you have an opinion?

Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam, editor-in-chief of New In Chess.

Dutchman, with a typical Dutch pronunciation of English. You can for instance hear it in the pronunciation of his 'th' and 'r'.